cubbieberry - Allura was in there, and fighting against General Kovinx no less! But now you see why this whole thing is so overwhelming. I have a plan to begin to break that up and sort it out. You will see little of K/A in this chapter, and little to none in others. BUT, the episodes revolving around the Lion Force will play out alot like Voltron Force episodes, complete with the tender K/A moments fans crave! In fact, I just finished writing a scene involving a minor Kogane family moment...
KathDMD -Indeed, I told you last chapter would be epic. But now we lead into "Fallen Angel". Read my note below to understand why I named it such.
As for Bhed, I had dropped hints earlier in the arc that he was the traitor. I was concerned that you didn't pick up on Chip in the Chameleon suit! And as for Loken, he had no idea that Dariana was his daughter. It took Kovinx's power to get him to open his eyes to the truth. Once he realized what Dariana was, his outlook changed. He agreed to testify in order to stay alive long enough to get to know the daughter he never got to raise. It's sensible enough.
As i just told cubbie above, the episodes going forward are gonna be broken up in teams. So while next week you'll see some K/A filled Lion Force action, the following week will feature the Vehicles, then Albegas, etc. There really is alot going on, and i want to break up the confusion and eventually make each its own series.
Oh...and the watch is ticking. There's more to that murder than an attempted robbery.
selena devargo - Glad you liked it! While I'm not done with Lotor and Lysette yet, you will find alot of Marina on the way! Stay tuned!
Author's Note - Why did I name this episode "Fallen Angel"? Because it ties in with "Locked Out Of Heaven" by KathDMD. The powerful Space Marshall had some powerful roots. And we're gonna see that scared and depressed teen reach out from the depths of hell to find the closure she's searched for for decades.
Theme Music : "Fallen Angel" by Poison
Disclaimer - Voltron and all associated characters are the property of WEP. Space Marshall Lenora Hawkins and associated characters are the property of KathDMD. Lieutenant Lysette Fabrere and associated characters are the property of selena devargo.
Episode 66 : Fallen Angel
Jon walked into the bedroom already wide awake and dressed for work. He walked over to Lenora, who was still asleep more or less, and gently nudged her.
"Hey," he said softly, "it's time to get up." She started to move slowly, then sprung awake. She put her hand on her chest. "Are you alright?" She slowly sat up and looked at him.
"Yeah," she said. "I just had another bad dream, that's all."
"Well you need to get up," he said, giving her a gentle kiss. "the High Council is meeting in an hour. Maria will be here in a bit to watch the twins." She fell back down onto the pillow.
"Ugh!" she said, exasperated. "Who scheduled this meeting?" He looked at her with a smile and a slight laugh.
"You did, mon ange," he replied. He walked out of the room. She let out a sigh before getting out of bed herself. She looked over at the clock and saw it was quarter to five in the morning. She got up and walked out of the room, heading for the bathroom to get a shower before heading into the office. As she left, she didn't notice a faint noise coming from the drawer of her nightstand….
Tick…..tick….tick.
Lenora stood in the north wing elevator as it rose to the fiftieth floor where the conference room is. As the elevator rose, she looked out at the rising sun to the east. She slowly closed her eyes and thought to herself, I wonder how many times Matthias stood here contemplating, and what things could have been going through his mind? The elevator soon came to a stop, and the doors opened. She crossed the hall and walked up to the next door, which opened automatically for her. Before her was a conference table surrounded by the High Council…members from different planets in the Alliance, all waiting to hear what she had to say. She slowly but confidently walked into the room and around the table to the other side. She looked around at all of them, then sat down. The others followed in suit.
"As you know, I have called this council meeting to discuss several things prior to launching the Defender," she said. "As usual, funding is always a major issue in these missions, and we must be careful with every credit we receive, whether it be through donations or government grants. We are not just an exploratory force, but a defense force. And with the Drule threat ever constant, we must continue to be vigilant."
"Why are we not outright declaring war on the Supremacy?" a broad shouldered human seated down the table asked. "Wouldn't it make sense to formulate some sort of pre-emptive strike to prevent a war on our own soil like the battle we just experienced?"
"That's partly why we are here at this meeting, Commodore Mitchell," she replied. "I feel that by making the decisions we need to make today, reorganizing the power structure of our military forces, and empowering our people to be able to perform their duties more efficiently, we can do more than prevent another attack on our soil. As you are aware, the Voltron Force created by Project Defender will for the most part remain here as a line of defense for Earth and her allies nearby. But we need to give all of our forces the capability to act in times of crisis. Now…" She pulled out a stack of papers from a manila envelope. "…as you can see in the documentation that was sent to you prior to the meeting, myself and several members of the council have come up with a structure that would best suit the Garrison's personnel both far and wide. I have also made recommendations for promotions to certain officers who have more than shown they are capable of the position, and worthy of the promotion. Ladies and gentlemen, please observe the list carefully." They all looked at the list. It was Admiral Mikal Baal of the planet Mira who spoke up first.
"I think we would need to see more of why they deserve these promotions other than just your word alone, Space Marshall," he said. "There are many things over the years that I and the rest of the council have bent to for you. You know we don't just represent a simple governing body for the Garrison, but representatives of the worlds that comprise the Galaxy Alliance. We have to take into consideration the wishes of those we represent."
"I understand your concern, Admiral," she replied. "That's why we have been meeting more lately, and why we all agreed on the changes we are going to make today in the structure of Garrison leadership. I want to start off by filling the vacancy left by Kelly Benton with Jonathan James Hawkins. The first thing I want to say before anyone says a word is this…Jonathan Hawkins has an extraordinary record of service to the Alliance. His leadership as a Lieutenant under Marshall Graham to his role as Commander aboard the U.S.S. Explorer, is nothing short of phenomenal. That is why I believe in my heart and soul that he will best serve you, the High Council, best as the new Vice Marshall." There were some whispers amongst the council members, but none vocally disagreed with her decision.
"I do have one concern," Bajan Ambassador Joseph Gali said. "I'm not saying it seems suspicious that the would-be Vice Marshall is also your husband, but wouldn't you find that a conflict of interests?"
"I've done my best to keep my personal and professional life separate, Ambassador," she replied. "Regardless of what people say." She shot a look at Colonel Dillin, being one of the oldest members of the council and one of the few that freely spread the rumors about her and the former Space Marshall. "Now, if you would kindly look at the list of promotions and lateral moves I had in mind to set up the restructuring, I have no doubt you will approve of my decisions." They all picked up the papers and filed through them :
Benton, Kelly – Admiral – Gladiator Project, Codename "Albegas"
Kogane, Keith Akira – Admiral – Honorary Title, Formally in charge of Arus Mission
McClain, Lance – Commander – Headmaster of Space Explorer Acadamy, Arusian Campus
Dalloway, Aidan – Commander – Gladiator project, Codename "Albegas"
Stebbins, Jason - Captain – Transmuted from former Rank of Major
Brown, Don - Captain – Transmuted from former Rank of Major
Stoker, Chip – Lieutenant Commander – Head of Project Defender Team
Stoker, Darrell – Lieutenant Commander – Head of Defense, Arus Project
Gordon, Daniel – Ensign – Unofficial Force Leader, Arus Project
Aliquam, Vince – Ensign – Arus Project
"There are two other promotions I wish to add to this list, but would need to further discuss it with you," she continued. "The first of which is Lady Larmina Odon of Arus. Her role in the Arus Project has become integral, and though she was never formally trained at the Academy, she will be undergoing testing at the new Arusian Campus in order to qualify her to become an officially ranked officer. Provided she passes the training curriculum, I would advise the Council to award her the rank of Ensign, and allow her to continue on in her leadership path." The Council began to debate amongst themselves, but after a short pause, she cleared her throat, asking for attention.
"The second isn't as cut and dry," she continued. "As you know, Admiral Carletti has been put on trial for crimes against the Alliance, as well as against his own family. This has unfortunately left his position quite vacant. In my absence, Commander Stormclaw has sought the help of one of his brightest Lieutenants, Lieutenant Lyssette Fabrere. She has shown exceptional interrogation skills, and based on her records both from the Academy and in service, she is an expert in combat skill. I believe it is through these merits that she would make a fine replacement as Admiral over Garrison forces." The Council began deliberating loudly.
"You can't expect us to concede to a decision like that with both her disciplinary record, and the fact that her spouse, who happens to be a confirmed war criminal, is claiming immunity due to their marriage!" Ambassador Gali shouted. "The idea that someone like him could be close to the Garrison military is preposterous!"
"I understand your concern," she said, knowing full well the Ambassador was not the only one with an opinion on the matter. "As I have said, we will discuss the issue. I have yet to meet with Miss Fabrere, and determine the situation with her spouse. I do however feel that her record speaks volumes, mostly positives, and that she would be an asset to us in a leadership position." The Council began to uproar again, talking both amongst themselves, and fighting for a word with the Space Marshall. Frustrated, she slammed down a fist to the table. "Gentlemen!" They quieted down. "It's clear to me you need more time to deliberate these matters. I hope for you all to come to a decision in the next day or two on these proposed changes. Please notify me when you reach your decision. Thank you." She stood up, saluted them all, then slowly walked out of the room. As the doors slid closed, she wiped the sweat from her brow. She sighed deeply, then continued on towards the elevator.
"The Commander has scheduled the launch for tomorrow," Krik said, sitting at a table in the lounge with Cliff. "We're headed back to the Yolon Sector to continue our exploratory mission there."
"Seems right," Cliff replied.
"I just feel like everything is moving fast," Krik replied. "I can't help feeling that we are going to encounter things we may not be prepared for."
"But that's what we're there for, mate," Cliff said with a laugh. "We wouldn't be much of explorers if we didn't lunge into the unknown, right? Don't tell me that sixth sense of yours is kicking in again."
"Yes and no," he replied. "I guess with all the changes, it's just hard getting used to." Just then, Jenny walked up to the table. She gave both men a salute.
"Captain Keats," she said, "Captain Jack, may I sit with you? I would like to have a word with you both."
"By all means," Cliff replied. "Have a seat, love." She sat down at the booth next to him.
"I know the Defender will be launching on its mission soon," she said. "And I know that usually the pilot of the CJE takes point when the force launches. Being barely a cadet at this point, I just wanted to openly admit that I have no designs on overstepping my bounds."
"You haven't," Cliff replied. "Not that I've seen." Krik shot him a look.
"You have been working with the force for as long as it existed," Jenny continued. "I want this to be an opportunity to learn and grow into my position as a Voltron Pilot." Krik leaned forward and looked her in the eye.
"The first thing you need to understand, Cadet Owens," he said sternly, "is that you need to follow orders. There were quite a few times several days ago you disobeyed a direct order. You could have easily been put on suspension for your actions. I don't mind that you are eager to learn, but as you admitted, you are merely a cadet. You need to learn discipline. And the first step is following orders." She lowered her head.
"Yes, sir," she said. She slowly got up and saluted them, and walked away. Cliff shot him a look.
"What's wrong with you?" Cliff asked. "She's been nothing but respectful, and you reprimanded her like she just blew up the ship."
"She needs to be reminded that she is not the one in charge of this team," Krik replied. "We can't risk the entire force falling apart because of the mutinous decisions of a simple cadet."
"Hmph," Cliff said. "Sounds more like you're afraid to accept the fact that she's one of us. Krik, we need to rely on these cadets. They are our teammates now. And we need to trust them as much as they trust us." Krik let out a sigh and continued eating.
JC and the team walked into the control room and stood in a line, dressed in full uniform. Commander Stormclaw stood before them.
"Voltron Force," he said, "I ordered you here to discuss your ongoing mission. As you know, the current threat from General Kovinx has been eliminated. But we know from history that the Drule Supremacy never gives up. We fully expect there to be some sort of reprise for what happened the other day. That is why we must be on our guard." He paced back and forth in front of them. "One of the first things we will need to do is to explore the underwater base and neutralize any further threats it may pose. General Kovinx had admitted personnel at the base was limited to his battalion, but it is possible there are still enemy units down there. We must eliminate that threat if it arises, and determine if it is safe and necessary to destroy the structure."
"How soon will we be launching for this mission?" JC asked.
"Tomorrow," he replied, "in the late morning. I suggest you get some sleep and be ready for the mission. Lieutenant Grend, I will need you to come up with a plan to approach the base and dock so that you may enter it safely and explore. I will send the schematics provided by General Kovinx to you. Please look them over."
"Yes, sir," JC replied with a salute.
"Dismissed," Mike said. The team began to file out of the control room. The others continued on ahead, but JC put his hand on Roxy's shoulder, and they both slowed down.
"What's the matter?" Roxy asked.
"I know we need to go down there and make sure this base is no longer a threat," JC replied, "but I don't think even with the information he's giving me we'll be prepared for this."
"It'll be ok," she said. "We're a team, remember? We'll figure it out."
"I just don't want us all to get in over our head," JC said.
"Long as we stick together," she replied, "we'll be ok. Have I ever steered you wrong?" JC went to open his mouth, and she gave him a look. He closed it, then continued walking down the hall with her.
Dariana walked down the halls on the lower level of the Garrison, heading towards the detention center. She walked up to the guards near the main door and showed them her ID.
"Dariana Kovinx," she said. "I am here to see my father."
"Right this way," one of them said as he unlocked the door and escorted her in. They walked down the hallway, and the cells that did contain prisoners emitted shouts and cries as they passed by. The guard stopped at one particular cell, guarded by not only a thick steel door, but three forcefields. Once the security was lowered, she was allowed inside. As she walked in, she saw Loken sitting on the bed, and he looked up at her.
"Hello, my daughter," he said.
"Father," she said, "I hope you've heard the news."
"That I am to be transported to Nebb to live out my days?" he asked. "Yes, I have. My only concern is your mother."
"Why is that?" Dariana asked.
"I haven't seen her in a very long time, young one," he replied. "Our view of the Supremacy was never the same. We did love each other very much, but she would not follow the footsteps I tread. And in hindsight, it was for the best. But now to live out my days there…I'm not sure if it is a blessing or a curse."
"Mother is a wonderful woman," she said. "She never spoke ill of you….not one word. I pray if she knew one ounce of the man you were, she wouldn't hold it against you, the man you are now."
"I wish it were that easy, my daughter," he replied. He looked into her eyes and smiled. "I will miss you. It's like we finally met, and all at once it's come to an end."
"It's only the beginning, father," she said. "I may be stationed here, but our voyages take us all over the galaxy. And I will return home to see Mother….and you."
"I would like that very much," he replied. He stood up and walked up to her. "The Defender will launch soon. They will be taking me to Nebb on their way back to Yolon. Until we meet again…" He wrapped his arms around her, and she did the same, holding him tightly.
"I love you," she said.
"I love you too, my daughter," he replied. "Never forget that."
The next morning, the sun was shining brightly over the Garrison as the crowd amassed to witness the Defender launching with her updated crew. The Voltron Force waved as they walked the platform into the ship Chet and Eddie greeted the crowd with wild shouts and fistpumps, which prompted Dixie to roll her eyes in blatant disgust. Jenny approached the entrance and walked up to Commander Jeff Aki, and saluted him. He saluted back, and the force proceeded to enter the ship. Near the front of the crowd, JC, Roxy, Tails, Seth and Dariana stood by to watch the event. Seth looked over at Dariana.
"What's wrong?' he asked.
"He's leaving with them," she replied.
"Your father?" he asked. She nodded. "You'll see him again. We're bound to be going back to Nebb at some point, right? Heck, it's been quite a while since I've seen my folks. Tails here hasn't been to Balto in forever."
"Eh, two point three five years," Tails replied. "But who's keeping count."
"My point is," Seth continued, "he'll be alright, and we'll see him again."
"I know," Dariana said with a sigh. JC pointed to the platform.
"Look!" he shouted. "They're about to take off!" No sooner did JC mention it, that the engines roared, and the Defender lifted from the platform and took off through the atmosphere. They all watched until the ship disappeared from view. The crowd began to disburse, and the team began to walk towards the hangar.
"I guess we should be getting ready for our mission," Roxy said. JC shrugged.
"I know you and I have gone over the plans a hundred times last night," he said. "But I'm still not sure what we're gonna run into down there."
"Whatever it is, we'll handle it," she replied.
"I guess you're right," he said, looking up at the sky where the Defender had been. "Hope they have better luck than us."
"Guard!" Bhed yelled from his cell. "Guard! I need to speak to the Space Marshall!" The guard looked in through the barred window of the door to his solitary cell and chuckled.
"I bet you do," the guard said.
"I'm serious!" Bhed shouted. "I have vital information for her! Information that might secure my release from here!"
"And what kind of information would that be?" the guard asked jokingly. "What information could you possibly give the Space Marshall that will give her even the slightest reason to just let you walk out of here? Especially after committing multiple acts of treason and espionage, the worst of which resulted in the near death of Sergeant Kirigas! What could you possibly know?"
"I know who killed her father," he said.